A private English tutor is a person who provides instruction to students outside of the classroom. This person usually works with students in need of additional guidance beyond the normal English instruction provided by teachers or professors, and the private English tutor will either work as an employee of a school or as a freelance tutor. Private tutoring lessons involve working in a one-on-one setting, meaning the student will get more attention than he or she is afforded in a classroom full of other students. The grade level with which the tutor will work will depend on his or her qualifications and preferences.

The English language can be a difficult one to master, even for native speakers, so a private English tutor will help a student develop stronger English skills as they relate to the material being covered in the classroom. This means the private English tutor will need to assess the student's current ability levels and find out what topics are being covered in the student's classes. If the tutor works for the school the student attends, he or she may collaborate with the primary instructor to develop a tutoring plan for the student. If the tutor is a freelancer or works independently of the school, he or she will need to assess the student and develop a tutoring plan independently.

If the private English tutor works for the school, it is likely that tutor will get paid an hourly wage by the school. If the tutor works as a freelancer, he or she will set the pricing structure to be competitive with other tutoring services. It is important to research independent tutors carefully to ensure they are qualified to perform the job; English tutors should have college degrees in English or related studies, and they will usually have some sort of teaching experience as well, though this is not always necessary. Independent tutors will need to advertise their services in order to find students in need of instruction, whereas tutors who work at a school will have the advantage of referrals from teachers.

Unlike the primary instructor, the private English tutor will not necessarily draw up lesson plans and lecture a student. Instead, the tutor will assess the student's needs and develop a tutoring strategy to help that student understand key concepts. This may involve administering practice tests, providing learning tools and aids, discussing topics with students, or developing new methods of teaching concepts to a particular student. Each tutoring plan will be different and tailored to the student.